August 26, 2026 • 25 mins
Your habits on Sunday might be shaping your heart more than you think. We get blunt and practical about what focused Christian worship looks like, from silencing the phone to avoiding side conversations, planning ahead for kids, and choosing attention over distraction. The point is not nitpicky rules. The point is worship that remembers who the audience is, and a church gathering that helps us grow into spiritually mature, committed followers of Jesus.
We then move from the room to the rest of life with a line that cuts straight through modern noise: whatever you worship, you will serve. Grounded in Matthew 4:8-10 and Jesus’ refusal to bow to anyone but God, we connect worship and service as inseparable parts of biblical discipleship. When the Sunday gathering becomes a weekly priority, it becomes a training ground that makes worship through the week more likely, strengthening spiritual formation, church involvement, and everyday obedience.
Romans 12:11 takes the theme even deeper: “serve the Lord.” We ask a tough question: do we relate to Jesus like volunteers who set the terms, or like slaves bought with a price? That reframes stewardship of time, money, career, and family priorities under Christ’s lordship. We also expose subtle traps like serving for praise, building an identity around “my ministry,” and people pleasing that fears disapproval more than it fears God. Our goal is simple: worship God and serve God with clean motives, real diligence, and genuine joy.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:27):
For every Christian, direct principles from the Word
of God to shape positions forthe church and for our
understanding of what it meansto become spiritually mature and
committed to the course ofJesus.
Today's message is part two ofour series, Basic Training.
And the scripture for today'smessage comes from Matthew
chapter 4, verses 8 through 10.
(00:48):
Let's join Dr.
Timothy Mann now.
SPEAKER_02 (00:52):
Put away distractions on Sunday mornings
and don't be a distraction toother worshipers.
So don't read your social mediafeed or shop on Amazon or play
video games during the singingor the sermon.
(01:14):
You should probably remember togo to the restroom immediately
prior to the beginning of theworship service.
And if you have children,encourage them to do so.
If you're thirsty, bring in abottle of water.
But please only a bottle ofwater.
Coffee, juice, or soda spills onthe floor and the seats create
(01:37):
significant difficulties withthe carpet and the fabrics.
Kevin, can I get an amen?
Or you can wait until theservice is over to go get a
drink.
If you have a family issuehappening, maybe you need to
slip out into the lobby.
It's okay.
Try not to carry on sideconversations with those around
(02:00):
you.
Instead, debrief at lunch or inthe ride home.
And as we repeat week after weekafter week on the video, put
your cell phone on silence.
I'm sure that you don't like tobe distracted during the
service.
Try not to be a distraction toothers.
(02:23):
However, let me say this.
This will help.
Ignore others around you.
Can you do that?
Ignore others around you andremember that God is the
audience.
There's a balance here,admittedly.
But we should feel free toexpress our love to God
outwardly without worrying aboutwhat others think of us.
(02:44):
David danced before the Lordeven though it embarrassed his
wife, but God sided with David.
But just remember that callingattention to yourself is not the
goal.
1 Corinthians 14 40 says, Allthings, this is talking about
the worship service, all thingsmust be done decently and in an
(03:05):
orderly manner.
Here's another suggestion.
Sing and listen well.
Sing and listen well.
Even if you don't know the song,try to sing.
Even if you don't like to sing,it's the command of scripture.
Even if you think you can't singand sound horrible, all that's
(03:28):
required is a noise.
Joyful.
Joyful.
All that's required is a noise.
Sing.
Sing.
When the biblical instruction istaking place through the
preaching and teaching, listenassertively for the purpose of
critiquing the pastor andfinding everything wrong that he
(03:51):
said.
And giving me a review as you goout.
No, listen assertively for thepurpose of hearing what the Holy
Spirit would say to you.
He is speaking.
Are you actively listening?
Is the question.
(04:13):
Are you actively listening?
Again, how much is Jesus worthto you?
Are you showing that?
Are you demonstrating that?
That's worship.
Is he the only one that you'reworshiping?
(04:33):
Look, if you make Sunday morninggathering a priority on a weekly
basis, the more likely it is,not a guarantee, but I will say
if you make the Sunday morninggathering a priority on a weekly
basis, the more likely it isthat you will be worshiping the
Lord through the week.
The Sunday gathering is basic.
It is a minimum core competency.
(04:58):
And a lot of other good worshipwill come out of that.
Well, what else did Jesus say?
He said, You shall worship theLord your God, and him only
shall you serve.
He said, Worship God, serve God.
(05:20):
Him only shall you serve.
Now, interestingly enough, whenSatan was tempting Jesus, he
didn't say serve me, he justsaid worship me.
He didn't say he said nothingabout service, but Jesus knew
that whatever we worship, wewill serve.
Now you think about that in yourlife.
(05:42):
Whatever you worship, you willserve.
Worship and service must gotogether.
They do go together.
In Romans 12.11, we have a verystraightforward command.
Romans 12.11 says this.
Serve the Lord.
(06:02):
Now that's deep, isn't it?
You don't need to read Greek.
You don't need to have aseminary degree.
Romans 12.11 says, serve theLord.
Serve the Lord.
This is a core competency foryou.
It's a core competency for methat we will serve the Lord.
(06:23):
It is basic.
At a minimum, the Bible teachesthat you are to get involved in
serving the Lord in some way.
Those three simple words inRomans 12.11, serve the Lord,
are packed with some importantpractical truths.
One is this, that's that allbelievers are called on to serve
(06:44):
the Lord.
All believers.
These words are not just forpastors or church leaders.
This is for the entire church.
All Christians, not justso-called full-time Christian
workers, are to be serving theLord in some capacity.
Serve the Lord.
Every believer has been givenspiritual gifts to use for the
building up of the body ofChrist.
(07:06):
There is no such thing as anon-serving member of the body.
If you're not serving him, youneed to ask the Lord how he
wants you to serve him and begindoing it.
And this is not, don't getconfused.
I don't want to confuse you.
This is not just the pragmaticaspect of the Sunday morning
(07:26):
gathering.
It can be that.
It's in your life with people.
How you're serving the Lord inyour life and through the
church.
Serve the Lord.
(07:48):
What does that say?
Well, it says this we serve theLord as slaves, not as
volunteers.
See that Greek word for serve,it does help to be able to check
out the Greek a little bit.
That Greek word, serve the Lord,serve, that Greek word means to
be enslaved.
It literally means performingthe service of a slave.
(08:12):
Check it out.
Go to Strong's Concordance.
Performing the service of aslave means to be enslaved.
And since the Lord bought uswith his blood out of the slave
market of sin, we're not ourown.
The Bible says you're boughtwith a price.
We belong to him as slaves.
(08:34):
Thus, all that we are and allthat we have is not ours, but
his.
This might come as a news breakto you, but your time is not
yours to use as you please.
That's hard for us to hear,isn't it?
Your money is not yours to spendas you please.
(08:55):
Your family is not yours to takepriority over allegiance to the
Lord.
Your career is not your own topursue as you wish.
Everything you have, everythingyou are, belongs to the Lord to
be used for his glory and hispurpose.
Yeah.
There's a fundamental differencebetween slaves and volunteers.
(09:22):
There's fundamental differences.
Very real differences.
Volunteers choose when and howthey serve.
Slaves are on call day andnight, whether they feel like
serving or not.
Volunteers can quit serving ifthey get tired.
Slaves are slaves for life.
(09:42):
The master may change theirduties, but they aren't free to
quit.
Not free to quit.
Volunteers have certainexpectations.
Well, they expect to be treatedwith respect.
They expect proper workingconditions and considerations of
their needs.
(10:03):
They expect to be honored fortheir service.
But slaves don't have any suchexpectations.
He said this, he said, Which ofyou, having a slave ploughing or
(10:24):
tending sheep, will say to himwhen he has come in from the
field, come immediately and sitdown to eat.
But will he not say to him,Prepare something for me to eat,
and properly clothe yourself andserve me while I eat and drink,
and afterward you may eat anddrink.
He does not thank the slave,because he did the things which
were commanded, does he?
So you too, talking about hisdisciples, you too, when you
(10:46):
have done all the things whichare commanded of you, did you
get that?
When you have done some of thethings which were commanded of
you?
No.
When you've picked and chosewhat you would like to do of
what he's commanded of you?
No.
When you have done all thethings that have been commanded
of you, say this.
We are unworthy slaves.
We have done that which was ourduty to do.
(11:12):
Did you get that?
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (11:17):
Thank you for listening to Foundations of
Truth, the biblical teachingministry of Dr.
Timothy Mann.
We're grateful that you'vechosen to spend this time
studying God's word with us.
Ministry like this is madepossible because listeners like
you believe biblical truth stillmatters and are willing to help
make sure that biblical teachingmatters.
(12:01):
Thank you for standing with usand helping make this ministry
possible.
If you'd like to give afinancial gift, you can do so
and get more biblical resourcesonline at
foundationsoftruth.net.
That's foundationsoftruth.net.
Now let's return to today'smessage, basic training.
Here's Dr.
Timothy Mann.
SPEAKER_02 (12:21):
Do you view yourself as a slave of Jesus Christ?
Or a volunteer for Jesus?
If that sounds harsh, to say, doyou view yourself as a slave of
Jesus Christ?
If that sounds harsh, rememberthe alternative.
As the great theologian BobDylan saying, you gotta serve
(12:42):
somebody.
You gotta serve somebody.
And you will.
If you're not a slave of Christ,then you're a slave of the devil
and of sin.
That's the only two choicesScripture gives you.
Christ is a loving, caringmaster who never abuses his
(13:04):
slaves.
The devil is a conniving,self-serving tyrant who has no
concern for his slaves.
It's far better to be Christ'sslave than to be enslaved to
Satan and to sin.
Far better.
What else does that three littlewords?
Serve the Lord.
What does that teach us?
(13:25):
Well, it teaches us that servingthe Lord means that we're not
serving ourselves.
It means that we're not servingourselves.
The Apostle Paul warned theRoman believers about that,
about those people who servethemselves, not Christ.
Romans 16 through 17 through 18,he said this.
He said, Now I urge you,brethren, keep your eye on those
who cause dissensions andhindrances contrary to the
(13:47):
teaching which you have learned,and turn away from them.
For such men are slaves, not ofour Lord Christ, but of their
own appetites, and by theirsmooth and flattering speech
they deceived the hearts of theunsuspecting.
Those men were manipulators,using the so-called ministry to
satisfy their own lusts.
(14:10):
You know this to be true.
Some are in the ministry becausethey love to be in power over
people, not to build them up inChrist.
Some use the ministry forfinancial gain, using false
promises of healing andprophecies to milk people of
donations so that they cansupport a lavish lifestyle.
(14:31):
Others despicably use theirposition in ministry to prey on
vulnerable women, using them togratify their sexual lusts.
All such men are servingthemselves, not Christ as Lord.
They're serving themselves.
And while I hope none of us inthis room are so crass as that,
(14:52):
we can fall into the more subtlesnare of using our service for
Christ to serve our own needs.
I've read secular articles thaturge people to volunteer in some
sort of community service wherethe pitch is this: you will
benefit from serving.
So people serve for what it cando for them.
(15:14):
It's so easy for Christians alsoto fall into that mindset where
it becomes my ministry.
This is my ministry.
It brings me fulfillment.
My whole identity then gets tiedup in my ministry.
I love the feeling ofsignificance that I get when I
(15:36):
help out.
I love the praise that peoplegive me when I serve them.
And while there is great joy inserving the Lord, and there is a
legitimate sense of fulfillmentwhen God uses you to serve
others, we need to beware ofserving ourselves rather than
serving the Lord.
Because it sets you up forgetting hurt when others do not
(16:01):
give you the praise andaffirmation that you're seeking.
They will disappoint you.
Serving the Lord means we're notserving ourselves.
Only that, serving the Lordmeans that we're not primarily
serving others.
Serve the Lord.
(16:21):
It means we're not primarilyserving others.
Are y'all still tracking withme?
True, there is a sense, there isa sense in which through love
that we serve one another,Galatians 5.13.
We are to bear one another'sburdens, Galatians 6.2.
We are to lay down our lives forone another, 1 John 3.16.
(16:41):
But there is a primary sense inwhich we serve the Lord, not
people.
In Galatians 1.10, the ApostlePaul writes, and he says, For am
I now seeking the favor of menor of God?
Or am I or am I striving toplease men?
If I were still trying to pleasemen, I would not be a bond
servant of Christ.
(17:03):
Again, bondservant is a Greekword for slave.
If our focus is in servingpeople is to gain their favor,
then we're not serving Christ.
If we care more about whatpeople think of us than about
what the Lord thinks about us,then we're not serving them.
(17:25):
We're serving them andourselves, but we're not serving
Christ.
We need to aim at pleasing Godwho examines our hearts.
We need to be faithful to histruth, even if people despise us
for it.
We only serve peoplesecondarily.
It is the Lord Christ whom weserve.
(17:47):
Now, of course, when we serveChrist by aiming to please him
above all, then we do trulyserve people.
But I'm going to tell you, ifyou're a people pleaser craving
affirmation from someone else orcraving popularity, you know
what happens?
You won't confront those in sinbecause they may not like you.
You won't say hard things fromtime to time because they may
(18:09):
not like you.
But I'm going to tell you, tolet people go on in sin is not
to love them and serve them.
It's not.
There's some parents that needto get a hold of that.
Because their sin will destroythem.
But if you're a servant ofChrist, then you aren't
dependent on the praise ofpeople.
(18:32):
And if you need to confront, youdo it in humble obedience to
Christ and out of love for thatperson, for the sinner.
You don't do it from a positionof superiority or
self-righteousness, but inmeekness.
But you're not worried aboutwhat other people think of you.
You're only concerned that youplease your master.
So we're all called to serveChrist.
(18:52):
We serve as his slaves, not ashis volunteers.
Serving the Lord means thatwe're not primarily serving
ourselves, and we're notprimarily serving others.
Serve the Lord.
Serving the Lord means that weserve the one who loved us and
gave himself for us while wewere yet sinners.
(19:13):
He is the Lord of glory, whogave up the splendor of heaven
to endure the abuse of sinnersin order to bring us glory.
It's a great privilege to servethis gracious, loving Lord.
It's not a burdensome duty, butit's a joy to serve the King of
Kings who sacrificed himself torescue me from condemnation.
(19:33):
It's a joy.
So, how should we serve theLord?
Well, first, you need to makesure your motivation's right.
You serve him because of hisgreat mercies toward you in the
gospel.
And that motivation moves you.
I didn't give you the rest ofthat verse in Romans.
(19:54):
Let me read it to you just realquickly.
Romans 12, 11.
It's interesting.
It says this.
It says not lagging indiligence.
Fervent in spirit.
(20:15):
Serving the Lord.
Not lagging in diligence.
Fervent in spirit.
That means that motivation meansthat you're not going to be
lazy.
But you're going to be diligentin serving him.
Serving Christ becomes yourfervor.
Serving Christ becomes yourpassion.
(20:36):
So that you do it fervently.
And you remember that you'reserving none other than the Lord
Himself.
So we worship God and we serveGod.
And we do that because that'swho we are as followers of
Jesus.
And we do it so that we mightbecome more mature and more
(20:58):
committed to followers of Jesus.
These are core competencies ofbeing a follower of Jesus.
It is basic.
SPEAKER_01 (21:10):
It's basic training.
Gail, would you come?
How's your worship?
No, seriously.
How's your worship?
SPEAKER_02 (21:23):
Is it a privilege and a priority to gather with
the church?
Or do you simply see it as anoption or a personal preference
or something that's okay to doif you don't have something
better going on?
But it's not really necessary.
If so, if so, then you'reignoring the command of
(21:45):
Scripture and you will not be aneffective Christian.
How's your service?
How's your service?
Are you serving God with yourlife?
Day by day?
Are you serving God with thechurch?
These are two core competenciesthat are basic to your Christian
(22:08):
life and to our life as achurch.
Worship God?
Serve God.
Talk about the other two nextweek.
Worship God?
Serve God.
Let's stand.
And as you stand, would you bowyour heads with me?
(22:29):
It's not going to take a longtime.
Just want you to have a momentof reflection.
Thinking about your own life,your own situation.
Mature and committed?
Well, how's your worship?
How's your service?
(22:51):
And there's all kinds of ways toserve the Lord.
All kinds.
Are you a genuine follower ofChrist?
We can throw around the wordsmature and committed, but that
doesn't really matter if you'renot a follower of Jesus.
(23:14):
For you look in your life, youlook in your heart, you know
you've been saved by grace.
You've repented.
You are repenting, you'rebelieving, you're trusting,
you're wanting to follow Jesus.
If that's not true for you, Iurge you, repent.
Believe.
Call out to Christ for his mercyand his grace.
Follow him.
SPEAKER_00 (23:34):
Trust him today.
Thanks for spending part of yourday with us on Foundations of
Truth, the biblical teachingministry of Dr.
Timothy Mann.
If you'd like to hear thismessage again or give a
financial gift or get morebiblical resources, you can do
so online.
Foundationsoftruth.net.
That's foundationsoftruth.net.
(23:56):
And thank you so much.
Join us again tomorrow foranother opportunity to study the
scriptures and discover theunchanging truth of God's Word.
Foundations of Truth with Dr.
Timothy Mann is supported inpart by Luther Wrights College
and Seminary, equipping men andwomen for ministry through
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As a leader in online learning,we are grateful for their
(24:18):
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(24:39):
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If you've been encouraged by theteaching of Dr.
Timothy Mann on Foundations ofTruth, here's an opportunity to
meet him in person.
(25:00):
Join Dr.
Mann Saturday, September 19th,10 a.m.
to 2 p.m.
at From My Library to YoursChristian Bookstore in Port
Orange for a special authorevent featuring his book, Saved,
Understanding God's Work in Us.
There'll be book signing,conversation, and brief talks
with a QA at 10:15 a.m.
and 115 p.m.
(25:21):
That's Saturday, September 19th,at the Pavilion next to Massage
Envy in Port Orange, Florida.
For every Christian, direct principles from the Word
of God to shape positions forthe church and for our
understanding of what it meansto become spiritually mature and
committed to the course ofJesus.
Today's message is part two ofour series, Basic Training.
And the scripture for today'smessage comes from Matthew
chapter 4, verses 8 through 10.
(00:48):
Let's join Dr.
Timothy Mann now.
SPEAKER_02 (00:52):
Put away distractions on Sunday mornings
and don't be a distraction toother worshipers.
So don't read your social mediafeed or shop on Amazon or play
video games during the singingor the sermon.
(01:14):
You should probably remember togo to the restroom immediately
prior to the beginning of theworship service.
And if you have children,encourage them to do so.
If you're thirsty, bring in abottle of water.
But please only a bottle ofwater.
Coffee, juice, or soda spills onthe floor and the seats create
(01:37):
significant difficulties withthe carpet and the fabrics.
Kevin, can I get an amen?
Or you can wait until theservice is over to go get a
drink.
If you have a family issuehappening, maybe you need to
slip out into the lobby.
It's okay.
Try not to carry on sideconversations with those around
(02:00):
you.
Instead, debrief at lunch or inthe ride home.
And as we repeat week after weekafter week on the video, put
your cell phone on silence.
I'm sure that you don't like tobe distracted during the
service.
Try not to be a distraction toothers.
(02:23):
However, let me say this.
This will help.
Ignore others around you.
Can you do that?
Ignore others around you andremember that God is the
audience.
There's a balance here,admittedly.
But we should feel free toexpress our love to God
outwardly without worrying aboutwhat others think of us.
(02:44):
David danced before the Lordeven though it embarrassed his
wife, but God sided with David.
But just remember that callingattention to yourself is not the
goal.
1 Corinthians 14 40 says, Allthings, this is talking about
the worship service, all thingsmust be done decently and in an
(03:05):
orderly manner.
Here's another suggestion.
Sing and listen well.
Sing and listen well.
Even if you don't know the song,try to sing.
Even if you don't like to sing,it's the command of scripture.
Even if you think you can't singand sound horrible, all that's
(03:28):
required is a noise.
Joyful.
Joyful.
All that's required is a noise.
Sing.
Sing.
When the biblical instruction istaking place through the
preaching and teaching, listenassertively for the purpose of
critiquing the pastor andfinding everything wrong that he
(03:51):
said.
And giving me a review as you goout.
No, listen assertively for thepurpose of hearing what the Holy
Spirit would say to you.
He is speaking.
Are you actively listening?
Is the question.
(04:13):
Are you actively listening?
Again, how much is Jesus worthto you?
Are you showing that?
Are you demonstrating that?
That's worship.
Is he the only one that you'reworshiping?
(04:33):
Look, if you make Sunday morninggathering a priority on a weekly
basis, the more likely it is,not a guarantee, but I will say
if you make the Sunday morninggathering a priority on a weekly
basis, the more likely it isthat you will be worshiping the
Lord through the week.
The Sunday gathering is basic.
It is a minimum core competency.
(04:58):
And a lot of other good worshipwill come out of that.
Well, what else did Jesus say?
He said, You shall worship theLord your God, and him only
shall you serve.
He said, Worship God, serve God.
(05:20):
Him only shall you serve.
Now, interestingly enough, whenSatan was tempting Jesus, he
didn't say serve me, he justsaid worship me.
He didn't say he said nothingabout service, but Jesus knew
that whatever we worship, wewill serve.
Now you think about that in yourlife.
(05:42):
Whatever you worship, you willserve.
Worship and service must gotogether.
They do go together.
In Romans 12.11, we have a verystraightforward command.
Romans 12.11 says this.
Serve the Lord.
(06:02):
Now that's deep, isn't it?
You don't need to read Greek.
You don't need to have aseminary degree.
Romans 12.11 says, serve theLord.
Serve the Lord.
This is a core competency foryou.
It's a core competency for methat we will serve the Lord.
(06:23):
It is basic.
At a minimum, the Bible teachesthat you are to get involved in
serving the Lord in some way.
Those three simple words inRomans 12.11, serve the Lord,
are packed with some importantpractical truths.
One is this, that's that allbelievers are called on to serve
(06:44):
the Lord.
All believers.
These words are not just forpastors or church leaders.
This is for the entire church.
All Christians, not justso-called full-time Christian
workers, are to be serving theLord in some capacity.
Serve the Lord.
Every believer has been givenspiritual gifts to use for the
building up of the body ofChrist.
(07:06):
There is no such thing as anon-serving member of the body.
If you're not serving him, youneed to ask the Lord how he
wants you to serve him and begindoing it.
And this is not, don't getconfused.
I don't want to confuse you.
This is not just the pragmaticaspect of the Sunday morning
(07:26):
gathering.
It can be that.
It's in your life with people.
How you're serving the Lord inyour life and through the
church.
Serve the Lord.
(07:48):
What does that say?
Well, it says this we serve theLord as slaves, not as
volunteers.
See that Greek word for serve,it does help to be able to check
out the Greek a little bit.
That Greek word, serve the Lord,serve, that Greek word means to
be enslaved.
It literally means performingthe service of a slave.
(08:12):
Check it out.
Go to Strong's Concordance.
Performing the service of aslave means to be enslaved.
And since the Lord bought uswith his blood out of the slave
market of sin, we're not ourown.
The Bible says you're boughtwith a price.
We belong to him as slaves.
(08:34):
Thus, all that we are and allthat we have is not ours, but
his.
This might come as a news breakto you, but your time is not
yours to use as you please.
That's hard for us to hear,isn't it?
Your money is not yours to spendas you please.
(08:55):
Your family is not yours to takepriority over allegiance to the
Lord.
Your career is not your own topursue as you wish.
Everything you have, everythingyou are, belongs to the Lord to
be used for his glory and hispurpose.
Yeah.
There's a fundamental differencebetween slaves and volunteers.
(09:22):
There's fundamental differences.
Very real differences.
Volunteers choose when and howthey serve.
Slaves are on call day andnight, whether they feel like
serving or not.
Volunteers can quit serving ifthey get tired.
Slaves are slaves for life.
(09:42):
The master may change theirduties, but they aren't free to
quit.
Not free to quit.
Volunteers have certainexpectations.
Well, they expect to be treatedwith respect.
They expect proper workingconditions and considerations of
their needs.
(10:03):
They expect to be honored fortheir service.
But slaves don't have any suchexpectations.
He said this, he said, Which ofyou, having a slave ploughing or
(10:24):
tending sheep, will say to himwhen he has come in from the
field, come immediately and sitdown to eat.
But will he not say to him,Prepare something for me to eat,
and properly clothe yourself andserve me while I eat and drink,
and afterward you may eat anddrink.
He does not thank the slave,because he did the things which
were commanded, does he?
So you too, talking about hisdisciples, you too, when you
(10:46):
have done all the things whichare commanded of you, did you
get that?
When you have done some of thethings which were commanded of
you?
No.
When you've picked and chosewhat you would like to do of
what he's commanded of you?
No.
When you have done all thethings that have been commanded
of you, say this.
We are unworthy slaves.
We have done that which was ourduty to do.
(11:12):
Did you get that?
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (11:17):
Thank you for listening to Foundations of
Truth, the biblical teachingministry of Dr.
Timothy Mann.
We're grateful that you'vechosen to spend this time
studying God's word with us.
Ministry like this is madepossible because listeners like
you believe biblical truth stillmatters and are willing to help
make sure that biblical teachingmatters.
(12:01):
Thank you for standing with usand helping make this ministry
possible.
If you'd like to give afinancial gift, you can do so
and get more biblical resourcesonline at
foundationsoftruth.net.
That's foundationsoftruth.net.
Now let's return to today'smessage, basic training.
Here's Dr.
Timothy Mann.
SPEAKER_02 (12:21):
Do you view yourself as a slave of Jesus Christ?
Or a volunteer for Jesus?
If that sounds harsh, to say, doyou view yourself as a slave of
Jesus Christ?
If that sounds harsh, rememberthe alternative.
As the great theologian BobDylan saying, you gotta serve
(12:42):
somebody.
You gotta serve somebody.
And you will.
If you're not a slave of Christ,then you're a slave of the devil
and of sin.
That's the only two choicesScripture gives you.
Christ is a loving, caringmaster who never abuses his
(13:04):
slaves.
The devil is a conniving,self-serving tyrant who has no
concern for his slaves.
It's far better to be Christ'sslave than to be enslaved to
Satan and to sin.
Far better.
What else does that three littlewords?
Serve the Lord.
What does that teach us?
(13:25):
Well, it teaches us that servingthe Lord means that we're not
serving ourselves.
It means that we're not servingourselves.
The Apostle Paul warned theRoman believers about that,
about those people who servethemselves, not Christ.
Romans 16 through 17 through 18,he said this.
He said, Now I urge you,brethren, keep your eye on those
who cause dissensions andhindrances contrary to the
(13:47):
teaching which you have learned,and turn away from them.
For such men are slaves, not ofour Lord Christ, but of their
own appetites, and by theirsmooth and flattering speech
they deceived the hearts of theunsuspecting.
Those men were manipulators,using the so-called ministry to
satisfy their own lusts.
(14:10):
You know this to be true.
Some are in the ministry becausethey love to be in power over
people, not to build them up inChrist.
Some use the ministry forfinancial gain, using false
promises of healing andprophecies to milk people of
donations so that they cansupport a lavish lifestyle.
(14:31):
Others despicably use theirposition in ministry to prey on
vulnerable women, using them togratify their sexual lusts.
All such men are servingthemselves, not Christ as Lord.
They're serving themselves.
And while I hope none of us inthis room are so crass as that,
(14:52):
we can fall into the more subtlesnare of using our service for
Christ to serve our own needs.
I've read secular articles thaturge people to volunteer in some
sort of community service wherethe pitch is this: you will
benefit from serving.
So people serve for what it cando for them.
(15:14):
It's so easy for Christians alsoto fall into that mindset where
it becomes my ministry.
This is my ministry.
It brings me fulfillment.
My whole identity then gets tiedup in my ministry.
I love the feeling ofsignificance that I get when I
(15:36):
help out.
I love the praise that peoplegive me when I serve them.
And while there is great joy inserving the Lord, and there is a
legitimate sense of fulfillmentwhen God uses you to serve
others, we need to beware ofserving ourselves rather than
serving the Lord.
Because it sets you up forgetting hurt when others do not
(16:01):
give you the praise andaffirmation that you're seeking.
They will disappoint you.
Serving the Lord means we're notserving ourselves.
Only that, serving the Lordmeans that we're not primarily
serving others.
Serve the Lord.
(16:21):
It means we're not primarilyserving others.
Are y'all still tracking withme?
True, there is a sense, there isa sense in which through love
that we serve one another,Galatians 5.13.
We are to bear one another'sburdens, Galatians 6.2.
We are to lay down our lives forone another, 1 John 3.16.
(16:41):
But there is a primary sense inwhich we serve the Lord, not
people.
In Galatians 1.10, the ApostlePaul writes, and he says, For am
I now seeking the favor of menor of God?
Or am I or am I striving toplease men?
If I were still trying to pleasemen, I would not be a bond
servant of Christ.
(17:03):
Again, bondservant is a Greekword for slave.
If our focus is in servingpeople is to gain their favor,
then we're not serving Christ.
If we care more about whatpeople think of us than about
what the Lord thinks about us,then we're not serving them.
(17:25):
We're serving them andourselves, but we're not serving
Christ.
We need to aim at pleasing Godwho examines our hearts.
We need to be faithful to histruth, even if people despise us
for it.
We only serve peoplesecondarily.
It is the Lord Christ whom weserve.
(17:47):
Now, of course, when we serveChrist by aiming to please him
above all, then we do trulyserve people.
But I'm going to tell you, ifyou're a people pleaser craving
affirmation from someone else orcraving popularity, you know
what happens?
You won't confront those in sinbecause they may not like you.
You won't say hard things fromtime to time because they may
(18:09):
not like you.
But I'm going to tell you, tolet people go on in sin is not
to love them and serve them.
It's not.
There's some parents that needto get a hold of that.
Because their sin will destroythem.
But if you're a servant ofChrist, then you aren't
dependent on the praise ofpeople.
(18:32):
And if you need to confront, youdo it in humble obedience to
Christ and out of love for thatperson, for the sinner.
You don't do it from a positionof superiority or
self-righteousness, but inmeekness.
But you're not worried aboutwhat other people think of you.
You're only concerned that youplease your master.
So we're all called to serveChrist.
(18:52):
We serve as his slaves, not ashis volunteers.
Serving the Lord means thatwe're not primarily serving
ourselves, and we're notprimarily serving others.
Serve the Lord.
Serving the Lord means that weserve the one who loved us and
gave himself for us while wewere yet sinners.
(19:13):
He is the Lord of glory, whogave up the splendor of heaven
to endure the abuse of sinnersin order to bring us glory.
It's a great privilege to servethis gracious, loving Lord.
It's not a burdensome duty, butit's a joy to serve the King of
Kings who sacrificed himself torescue me from condemnation.
(19:33):
It's a joy.
So, how should we serve theLord?
Well, first, you need to makesure your motivation's right.
You serve him because of hisgreat mercies toward you in the
gospel.
And that motivation moves you.
I didn't give you the rest ofthat verse in Romans.
(19:54):
Let me read it to you just realquickly.
Romans 12, 11.
It's interesting.
It says this.
It says not lagging indiligence.
Fervent in spirit.
(20:15):
Serving the Lord.
Not lagging in diligence.
Fervent in spirit.
That means that motivation meansthat you're not going to be
lazy.
But you're going to be diligentin serving him.
Serving Christ becomes yourfervor.
Serving Christ becomes yourpassion.
(20:36):
So that you do it fervently.
And you remember that you'reserving none other than the Lord
Himself.
So we worship God and we serveGod.
And we do that because that'swho we are as followers of
Jesus.
And we do it so that we mightbecome more mature and more
(20:58):
committed to followers of Jesus.
These are core competencies ofbeing a follower of Jesus.
It is basic.
SPEAKER_01 (21:10):
It's basic training.
Gail, would you come?
How's your worship?
No, seriously.
How's your worship?
SPEAKER_02 (21:23):
Is it a privilege and a priority to gather with
the church?
Or do you simply see it as anoption or a personal preference
or something that's okay to doif you don't have something
better going on?
But it's not really necessary.
If so, if so, then you'reignoring the command of
(21:45):
Scripture and you will not be aneffective Christian.
How's your service?
How's your service?
Are you serving God with yourlife?
Day by day?
Are you serving God with thechurch?
These are two core competenciesthat are basic to your Christian
(22:08):
life and to our life as achurch.
Worship God?
Serve God.
Talk about the other two nextweek.
Worship God?
Serve God.
Let's stand.
And as you stand, would you bowyour heads with me?
(22:29):
It's not going to take a longtime.
Just want you to have a momentof reflection.
Thinking about your own life,your own situation.
Mature and committed?
Well, how's your worship?
How's your service?
(22:51):
And there's all kinds of ways toserve the Lord.
All kinds.
Are you a genuine follower ofChrist?
We can throw around the wordsmature and committed, but that
doesn't really matter if you'renot a follower of Jesus.
(23:14):
For you look in your life, youlook in your heart, you know
you've been saved by grace.
You've repented.
You are repenting, you'rebelieving, you're trusting,
you're wanting to follow Jesus.
If that's not true for you, Iurge you, repent.
Believe.
Call out to Christ for his mercyand his grace.
Follow him.
SPEAKER_00 (23:34):
Trust him today.
Thanks for spending part of yourday with us on Foundations of
Truth, the biblical teachingministry of Dr.
Timothy Mann.
If you'd like to hear thismessage again or give a
financial gift or get morebiblical resources, you can do
so online.
Foundationsoftruth.net.
That's foundationsoftruth.net.
(23:56):
And thank you so much.
Join us again tomorrow foranother opportunity to study the
scriptures and discover theunchanging truth of God's Word.
Foundations of Truth with Dr.
Timothy Mann is supported inpart by Luther Wrights College
and Seminary, equipping men andwomen for ministry through
biblically faithful theologicaleducation.
As a leader in online learning,we are grateful for their
(24:18):
partnership in helping carrybiblical truth farther.
We're thankful for AMN Plumbing,a local ministry partner serving
the Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach,Fort Orange, New Smyrna Beach,
and surrounding areas withdefendable plumbing service.
Their support helps makeFoundations of Truth available
to more listeners each week.
Foundations of Truth with Dr.
(24:39):
Timothy Mann is supported inpart by Cat Care Clinic, located
in Ormond Beach, and servingfamilies with thoughtful and
compassionate veterinary carefor cats.
We're grateful for theirpartnership in helping carry
biblical truth farther.
If you've been encouraged by theteaching of Dr.
Timothy Mann on Foundations ofTruth, here's an opportunity to
meet him in person.
(25:00):
Join Dr.
Mann Saturday, September 19th,10 a.m.
to 2 p.m.
at From My Library to YoursChristian Bookstore in Port
Orange for a special authorevent featuring his book, Saved,
Understanding God's Work in Us.
There'll be book signing,conversation, and brief talks
with a QA at 10:15 a.m.
and 115 p.m.
(25:21):
That's Saturday, September 19th,at the Pavilion next to Massage
Envy in Port Orange, Florida.
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